Safety-crane.



W; F. KLAUS.

SAFETY CRANE.

APPLIOATION FILED 001.23, 1911.

1,016,417. Patented Feb.6, 1912.

WILLIAM F. KLAUS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. e, 1912.

Application filed October 23, 1911. Serial No. 656,251.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KLAUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety- Cranes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in safety cranes especially designed for use on locomotives. Y

The object of the invention is to provide a safety crane of simple and eificient construction which is adapted to be secured in operative position on the cab of a railway locomotive and which will afford a sure, safe, and convenient means of escape for the engineer and fireman in case of collision or other accident.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and the arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described and afterward specifically claimed. l

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a locomotive cab with this improved crane shown applied and in normal position, the crane being in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the crane with the parts in the position which they assume when in operation; jFig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ratchet plate.

In the embodiment illustrated a portion of a locomotive cab A is shown with this improved safety crane applied. This'crane comprises a tubular inverted L-shaped member or goose neck 1, revolubly mounted in suitable bearings in the cab in position to cause the upper end to extend laterally beyond one side of the cab when the crane is turned in one direction. A ratchet 2 is fixed to the cab and has a central bearing 3 therein in which a stud 4 on the lower end of the member 1 is revolubly mounted. A pawl 5 is pivoted to said member 1 in position to engage said rachet and to ride freely thereover when the member 1 is turned inone direction and to engage the ratchet teeth and lock the crane against turning in the opposite direction. This ratchet also has an aperture 6 therein with which a pin 7, to be described, is designed to engage. A spring S is connected with the cab and with the crane, and exerts its tension to turn the crane into position to swing its upper end over the side of the cab. A plunger 9 is slidable in the vertical portion of the crane and is held normally in the lower end thereof by a coiled expansion spring 1()v arranged on the plunger rod 11 and ywhich bears at one end against the plunger and its other end against a shoulder 12 in said crane. A flexible element 13 is connected at one end to said plunger rod and its other end extends through the upper' end of the crane and is provided with a hand grip 14 here shown in the form of a ring. An apertured lug 15 projects laterally from the lower end of the crane and the aperture therein is designed to register with the aperture 6 in the ratchet 2 when the crane is swung outward as shown in Fig. 2. `When in this position, the pin 7 which is loosely mounted in said lug 15 extends through said registering apertures and locks the crane in outswung position.

On the free upper end of the crane, preferably near its terminal is a band 16, having a laterally extending eye 17 for operation with a spring actuated locking pin 18,

to be described. This pin y18 is preferably L-shaped and one arm 19 thereof extends into position for engagement with the gripping ring 14 when the crane is in normal position, and the other arm 20 extends upward through a casing 21 secured to a suitable support, and engages the eyes 17, thereby locking the crane in normal position against the tension of the spring 8. A stop in the form of a collar 22 is fixed to the arm 2O within the casing 21 and the spring 23 is coiled around said arm 20 within the casing and bears at one end against the end of the casing and at its other end against the stop 22, yielding its tension to force the free end of the arm 2O of the locking pin upwardlyv drawal of the pin 18 from the eye of the band carried by the crane, the crane, under the act-ion of the spring 8 will partially revolve, causing the' upper end thereof to swing outward over the side of the -cab carrying with it the engineer who is swinging from the grip 14 and deposits him safely on the ground at one side of the track. When the crane is swung in this direction, the pawl 5 rides freely over the teeth of the ratchet 2 and the pin 7 is carried with the,

crane into position to engage the aperture 6 in the ratchet plate 2. Should the pin fail to engage the aperture 6 and the crane swing backward, the pawl will engage the teeth of the ratchet and lock the crane against turning. It will thus be obvious that all danger of the crane swinging backward and Qcarrying the person suspended therefrom backward into the wreckage, is avoided.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a locomotive cab, of a safety crane mounted therein and having a laterally extending arm, removable means for holding said crane against turning, means for removing said holding means, and means for turning said crane operable on the release of said holding means.

2. In a safety crane, the combination of a supporting structure, a hollow crane 4revolubly mounted thereon, coperat-ing elements for holding said crane against turning, one of said elements being carried by said crane, means mounted on said crane and connected with the other holding element operable by a pull exerted thereon to disengage said element from the element on the crane, and means for automatically turning said crane on the release of said holding element.

3. The combination with a supporting structure a safety crane revolubly mounted thereon, a spring for turning said crane in Aone direction, a spring pressed catch carried by said supporting structure, means on said crane for engagement with said catch to hold said crane against the tension of said spring, and means carried by the crane for engagement with said catch and operable by a pull thereon for releasing said catch.

4. The combination with a supporting structure, of a tubular goose neck crane revolubly mounted thereon, a spring cushioned plunger mounted in said crane, means for turning said crane in one direction, means for holding said crane against turning, said holding means being connected with said plunger, and means connected with the plunger and disposed in position to be grasped and a pull exerted thereon, whereby the plunger is elevated against its cushioning spring and the crane holding means released.

5. The combination with a supporting structure, a ratchet xed thereto and having a centrally disposed bearing, a tubular crane having a journal mounted in said bearing, a pawl on said crane arranged to engage-the teeth of said ratchet, said ratchet having an aperture therein, an apertured lug extending laterally from said crane and adapted to register with the aperture in said ratchet when the crane is in normal position, a locking pin insertible in said apertures, a plunger and disposed within said crane, and means connected with said plunger operable by a pull exerted .thereon for releasing the crane, said pin dropping into the aperture in said ratchet when the crane swings outward, thereby locking said crane in outswung position.

6. The combination with a supporting structure, of a tubular goose neck crane revolubly mounted therein, a spring connected with said crane and with said structure for turning the crane in one direction, means for holding said crane against the tension of said spring, a spring pressed plunger mounted in said crane and having means connected with said crane-holding means, a flexible element connected with said plunger and extending through the upper end of said crane, a hand grip connected with said flexible element and adapted to be grasped and a pull exerted thereon, whereby the crane-holding means is released.

7 The combination wit-h a supporting structure, of a tubular goose neck crane revolubly mounted thereon, a spring connected to turn said crane in one direction, means for holding said crane against the tension of said spring comprising an apertured lug secured to said crane, a spring pressed pin mounted on said supporting structure in position to engage said apertured lug when the crane is swung inward into normal position, a spring cushioned element mounted in said crane and connected with said spring pressed pin and operable by a pull exerted thereon to release said pin from said apertured lug, whereby the crane is released.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. KLAUS.

Witnesses ANDREW S. Kriens,- S. OSCAR MOORE.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

